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Tuscan villa with large private pool, fountain & pizza oven

Tuscan villa with large private pool, fountain & pizza oven

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Tuscany is the beautifully restored turn-of-the-century Liberty-style Villa Montanara. Looking out over wooded hills (including its own chestnut wood) with views of the highest peaks of the Apuan Alps, the villa is on the edge of two National Parks. Despite the hot summers, the property is light and airy with windows on two sides of every room and cool marble and stone flooring. The large private swimming pool just a few steps from the villa incorporates a shallow play area for young children as well as a fountain; and has internal lights for night-time use. There are terraces at the front and back to provide sun and shade at all times of the day; and next to the pool is a stone-built pizza oven with a terrace (and plenty of wood).
The drive leads past the front lawn to the front doors where there is parking for three cars. The front hall leads to the large marble-tiled sitting rooms to the right. Each of these is 5m (16 feet) square with high 3m (10 feet) ceilings. They are linked by double French doors and each has double shuttered windows, and double doors leading to the front terrace and lawn.
Opposite these are the marble-tiled dining room and modern kitchen with the same dimensions and linked by a large arch. In anticipation of parties we have a large dining table inside (and two further tables on the front and rear terraces.) and there is plenty of china, glasses and cutlery and two dishwashers to ensure no one ever needs to wash up anything. The kitchen also includes a cool granite work surface; a large American-style fridge-freezer with crushed ice and iced water dispensers; an ice cream maker; a De Longhi espresso and capuccino maker; a breadmaker (useful for pizza dough); electric ceramic hob and oven; microwave; toaster and, for those who want tea, a kettle.
Each of the kitchen and dining room leads out through double doors to the deck which runs the whole width of the house. This incorporates deck lights for use in the evenings and looks out over the rear garden, pizza oven and pool.
The rear garden slopes gently down to the pool which was designed for both confident swimmers with a depth of 1.5m, and for young children and therefore incorporates three wide steps forming the shallow end where children can play safely. There is also a fountain which runs into the shallow end and this, and the water jets incorporated into the steps, can perform a rigorous hydromassage for shoulders and back.
The terrace round the pool has 8 sun loungers; and for shade there is a curtained gazebo. A couple of the apple trees also provide shade over part of the pool terrace during the mornings. The underwater pool lights allow for night-time dips; and if you want to keep the daytime warmth in the water, there is a rollered solar cover which keeps the warmth in overnight and adds heat during the day.
Adjacent to the pool is the stone-built pizza oven with plenty of wood, and a pizza paddle. The terrace here is where the barbecue is kept.
Below the pool is a meadow area with wild flowers and beyond that, the chestnut wood and views over the mountains.
Upstairs are the four bedrooms. Each of them has long double windows with internal and external shutters. The master bedroom includes an antique brass king-size bed and an en-suite marble lined bathroom with twin walk-in showers; the second bedroom includes a double bed and marble-tiled bathroom; the third bedroom includes original Tuscan twin beds; and the fourth bedroom includes a king-size bed together with a single bed. Any of these bedrooms can accommodate the cot.

Overview

4 bedroom, 4 bathroom spacious villa with magnificent mountain views

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Tuscany is the beautifully restored turn-of-the-century Liberty-style Villa Montanara. Looking out over wooded hills (including its own chestnut wood) with views of the highest peaks of the Apuan Alps, the villa is on the edge of two National Parks. Despite the hot summers, the property is light and airy with windows on two sides of every room and cool marble and stone flooring. The large private swimming pool just a few steps from the villa incorporates a shallow play area for young children as well as a fountain; and has internal lights for night-time use. There are terraces at the front and back to provide sun and shade at all times of the day; and next to the pool is a stone-built pizza oven with a terrace (and plenty of wood).

The drive leads past the front lawn to the front doors where there is parking for three cars. The front hall leads to the large marble-tiled sitting rooms to the right. Each of these is 5m (16 feet) square with high 3m (10 feet) ceilings. They are linked by double French doors and each has double shuttered windows, and double doors leading to the front terrace and lawn.

Opposite these are the marble-tiled dining room and modern kitchen with the same dimensions and linked by a large arch. In anticipation of parties we have a large dining table inside (and two further tables on the front and rear terraces.) and there is plenty of china, glasses and cutlery and two dishwashers to ensure no one ever needs to wash up anything. The kitchen also includes a cool granite work surface; a large American-style fridge-freezer with crushed ice and iced water dispensers; an ice cream maker; a De Longhi espresso and capuccino maker; a breadmaker (useful for pizza dough); electric ceramic hob and oven; microwave; toaster and, for those who want tea, a kettle.

Each of the kitchen and dining room leads out through double doors to the deck which runs the whole width of the house. This incorporates deck lights for use in the evenings and looks out over the rear garden, pizza oven and pool.

The rear garden slopes gently down to the pool which was designed for both confident swimmers with a depth of 1.5m, and for young children and therefore incorporates three wide steps forming the shallow end where children can play safely. There is also a fountain which runs into the shallow end and this, and the water jets incorporated into the steps, can perform a rigorous hydromassage for shoulders and back.

The terrace round the pool has 8 sun loungers; and for shade there is a curtained gazebo. A couple of the apple trees also provide shade over part of the pool terrace during the mornings. The underwater pool lights allow for night-time dips; and if you want to keep the daytime warmth in the water, there is a rollered solar cover which keeps the warmth in overnight and adds heat during the day.

Adjacent to the pool is the stone-built pizza oven with plenty of wood, and a pizza paddle. The terrace here is where the barbecue is kept.

Below the pool is a meadow area with wild flowers and beyond that, the chestnut wood and views over the mountains.

Upstairs are the four bedrooms. Each of them has long double windows with internal and external shutters. The master bedroom includes an antique brass king-size bed and an en-suite marble lined bathroom with twin walk-in showers; the second bedroom includes a double bed and marble-tiled bathroom; the third bedroom includes original Tuscan twin beds; and the fourth bedroom includes a king-size bed together with a single bed. Any of these bedrooms can accommodate the cot.

About Stella Whiteley

Hello I'm Stella and here's a picture of me with our youngest child - taken just at the start of the long Italian school summer holidays - hence the broad smiles. Since then my husband, children and I have moved back to England although we still spend as much time as we can in Italy. We want you to be secure in making a booking and so are happy to accept payment through Paypal which offers you security guarantees.

Stella Whiteley purchased this villa in 2010

Why Stella Whiteley chose Casola in Lunigiana

We had our honeymoon in Tuscany in 1987. Many years, several Italian holidays and three children later we decided to return to live here.

Our Italian neighbours describe Reusa as the friendliest village in Italy and we can believe it. Not only that, it is surrounded by amazing views of the mountains and Tuscan hills, and filled with gentle rustic sounds.

And of course the summers are hot and sunny.

It is well off the tourist trails yet it's easy to reach the coast, as well as the main cities of the region both by car and train: there is a train station in nearby Casola where trains run direct to Lucca and Pisa.

What makes this villa unique

We chose this house because of its large bright and airy rooms. All of the living rooms and bedrooms have at least two long windows on two sides which allow a gently cooling breeze to run through the house even on the hottest days.

The villa has lots of land on three sides and great views. You will often see deer in the field and possibly even wild boar. The large flat front garden contains nut, cherry and fig trees as well as a trampoline.

At the top of the lane leading down to the villa is a spring producing water year round. People come from miles around to take water for drinking - and swear by its health-giving properties.

Now that we are based in England we appreciate the access from airports at Pisa, Parma, Florence, Genoa and Milan which makes getting there easy.

Each of the three upstairs bathrooms is lined with travertine marble and has a walk-in shower (that in the en-suite to Bedroom 1 being a twin shower) having both rainfall-style and directable jets. Two of the bathrooms have bidets and one has a bath with side taps.

Sleeps 8-11 (4 Bedrooms) Notes on bedrooms: Bedroom 1 with antique brass king-size bed and en-suite. Bedroom 2 with double bed and en-suite. Bedroom 3 with king-size bed and single bed. Bedroom 4 with Tuscan twin beds. Each bedroom can easily accommodate a cot. The double sofabed is downstairs. Each bedroom has long double windows on two sides with original internal and external wooden shutters

Entertainment:

Books

DVD Player

Television

Outside:

Terrace ...

Garden ...

Barbecue

Suitability:

Long-term Renters Welcome

suitable for elderly or infirm

wheelchair accessible ...

Pool / Spa:

Private Pool ...

Attractions:

autumn foliage

churches

forests

restaurants

Leisure Activities:

bird watching

scenic drives

walking

Local Services & Businesses:

ATM/bank

groceries

medical services

Sports & Adventure Activities:

cycling

hiking

hunting

mountain biking

swimming

Notes:

Notes on accommodation: Sleeps up to 9 in the bedrooms (all upstairs) and 2 on a double sofa bed in one of the sitting rooms downstairs. A travel cot can be provided in addition and can easily fit in any of the rooms. Outside: Private pool 12m x 5m with fountain, sun terrace and 8 loungers and incorporating a shallow area for young children as well as underwater lights for night time use, and bordered by organic lavender plants; an original stone-built pizza oven - still in working order with its own terrace and plentiful supply of wood; the south-facing rear garden leads to a field and, lower down, 6 acres of woodland; secluded side garden; and a level front lawned garden of about 30m x 12m with a badminton set for four. The gardens include mature fruit trees producing figs, apricots, hazelnuts, plums, cherries and apples; front and rear terraces with dining tables and chairs; further small round terrace with table and two chairs under the cherry tree at the front; a trampoline with enclosure; and a hammock. The villa is reached down a leafy lane accessible by vehicles, and has plenty of parking space immediately outside. Utility Room: The utility room includes the 110-gallon hot water tank supplied by the property's solar panels. Cleaning / Towels / Linen: Towels and luxury cotton linen are all included, including pool towels. Other: Entrance hall with original tiles and double height window lighting the stairs. Rear dining terrace with fabulous views, leads direct to the pool (also with fabulous views).

peace and serenity in tuscany

The view from this property is enough to make you want to sit on the terrace and watch the light change on the mountains. You can drag yourself away for a dip.in the lovely pool. The house is well decorated and has enough room to allow everyone to have a peaceful holiday. Information on what to see and where to eat locally was welcome.

Book Club goes to Italy

Our book club - 7 lovely women went to Reusa for a great 4 days in the Cararra Mountains. We lazed around the pool, cooked in the large well stocked kitchen, drank the great wine and, of course, had rumbustious bookly discussions. Villa Montanara is about an hour and a half easy drive from Pisa. Driving through Aula into the mountains, we suggest stocking up in the supermarkets there with local produce.

Beautiful villa in peaceful Tuscan countryside

We had a wonderful stay at this villa. The views across the pool to the mountains are really lovely, and the villa itself is cool, spacious and well-equipped. We were a group of 8, so especially loved the fact that there were two dishwashers!

The villa is in quite a remote location, with no shops within walking distance. If you are a nervous driver, you might find the mountain roads and the local style of driving a little challenging. The pool is glorious, the house is even nicer than it looks in the photos and the surrounding countryside is beautiful. We liked the eco-friendly approach adopted by the owners (solar heated water, etc.), which neatly combines luxury with being environmentally friendly. We very much hope to stay here again.

Beautiful house in a peaceful location

The house is fabulous. Beautiful rooms, very nicely decorated and the house was brilliantly equipped. The kids loved the pool. The big kitchen had everything you could need.

The location is lovely. Stunning views of the apuane alps. Reusa is tiny. There is a great restaurant that is walkable from the house (but maybe not walkable for little people or some older people). There are some bigger villages nearby, but you will need to drive a bit to get to bars, other restaurants or shops.

The area is lovely though. The people were very friendly and welcoming. It's off the tourist trail a bit but very charming. There was a great festival in nearby fivizzano, caves in equi terme and an easy train journey to Lucca and the Cinque Terre.

Very well appointed, clean, comfortable and authentic. Difficult to find fault with anything.

A superb holiday villa in a stunning location. Extremely well appointed and very.comfortable. Eight of us visited and all shared the same opinion. Difficult to find fault with anything inside or out. Having visited many vacation villas around the world this is without doubt in our top three. Would re visit in a heartbeat and thoroughly recommend it to anyone reading this review. Our visit was enhanced by very friendly and helpful owners who have literally provided everything you will need for a memorable stay.

Tuscan villa

I have spent two very happy holidays in this villa. It is in a beautiful, unspoilt area of Tuscany and is gloriously quiet. The view out over the valley to the mountains beyond is a joy every morning while swimming in the lovely pool or sat on the terrace.

The villa is large with lots of space to spread out in and has been tastefully restored. I particularly liked the space in the huge kitchen/dining room which would be great for family gatherings. The owner has obviously thought carefully and the villa has everything you will need for your stay.

There is a very good local restaurant within an easy 15 minute walk; the food is delicious and very reasonably priced. Other excellent restaurants are only a short car journey away.

Train stations are within easy reach and make for a great way to visit places further away like Florence or Cinque Terre.

I highly recommend this villa as a perfect base for a peaceful holiday in Tuscany and hope to stay here again.

The picturesque seaside town of Lerici (famous for sea food) is 30 miles away; and the towns slightly further down the coast at Forte dei Marmi (famous for its designer shops) and Viareggio can be reached by train from Casola station. Portovenere is 40 miles and from there you can visit the famous Cinque Terre (which can also be reached easily by train from Casola). Genoa (89 miles) makes a fabulous day trip with plenty to entertain all the family.

Reusa is the nearest village and is a 2 minute walk. Vigneta with a friendly bar and shop 5 minutes in the car. An easy 20 minute walk is Lo Spino Fiorito, a local restaurant serving typical Tuscan food at reasonable prices (3 course lunch with wine for €12 per person). Casola is a 10 minute drive and the lively medieval town of Fivizzano is a 20 minute drive. The Cinque Terre can be reached easily by train from Casola or boat from Portovenere (40 miles away). Lucca is 52 miles (lovely old walled city).

Further Details:

This Villa was originally our family home, our children attending the local school in Casola. Since 2014 it has been primarily our holiday home and we love this area. The location is stunning and we have tried to retain the original character of the house while at the same time adding modern comforts including hot water provided by solar panels. This is a place to really get away from it all. It is peaceful and tranquil and far enough off the tourist routes to be properly Italian. We can recommend various nearby restaurants where you will find reasonably-priced local fare; there are friendly local bars in which to chat and have a coffee or aperitivo (and eat ice-cream); there are miles of walks among the lanes and woodlands; a mountain bike is available and more bikes can be hired by the day or the week in Aulla, and in Lucca where you can cycle round the wide and level medieval city walls. You can get to Lucca, Pisa and further afield by train from the local station. For supermarket shopping head for Fivizzano (or Aulla) and try the Tuesday market in Fivizzano for local produce. Don't forget to stop for a coffee or ice cream (or both) at Ricci's cafe in the main square. For those who like history head for the Garfagnana area and try a visit to the fort of Mont'Alfonso in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana (23 miles) or the fort at Verrucola (16 miles). If you visit at the beginning of August, the medieval festival in the nearby town of Gragnola (8 miles) is great fun.